ullman



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

M. ULLMAN.

BASE BALL GAME PatentedJune '7, 1892.

IN VE N 70/? Jmi'i'zs FZZmvazz W/TNESSES4 A TTORNE Y8 (No Model.) 3Sheets-Sl1eefi 2.

M. ULLMAN.

BASE BALL GAME Patented June 7, 1892.

IN VE/V T01? (202 2 15 FZZnzazz A TTORNE YS A W/T ES 3:

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

M. ULLMAN. BASE BALL GAME. No. 476,334. Patented June 7,1892.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

MORRIS ULLMAN, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BASE-BALL GAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,334, dated June'7', 1892.

Application filed August 14, 1891.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MORRIS ULLMAN, residing at lVashington city, in theDistrict of Columbia, have invented a new and Improved Base-Ball Game,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an electrically-operated game; and it has forits object to provide a base-ball game which is more particularlyadapted for use at summer resorts, excursiongrounds, and other likepublic places, and which, while affording a means for considerableamusement, will also serve to test the accuracy and strength of thethrowing arm of the person playing the game.

My invention consists in an annunciator, an indicator operating thereonfor varied degrees of movement, a target or strike member, an electricalcircuit connecting such indicator with the target, a contactqnakeradapted to be moved to varied degrees by the vibration of the target,such varied degrees of movement of the contact serving to adjust theelec trical circuit to operate the indicator to the different degrees ofmovement stated.

My invention further consists in the peculiar combination and novelarrangement of parts, all of which will hereinafter be fully describedin the annexed specification and particularly pointed out in the claims,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa diagrammatic view illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view ofthe target. Fig. 3 is a rear View thereof. Fig. 4 is a verticallongitudinal section thereof on line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig.5 is a rear viewof a modification of the target. Fig. 6 is a hori- Zontal section on theline 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a top View of the annnnciator with the topboard removed. Fig.8 is a transverse section thereof on the line 8 8,Fig.7; and Fig. 9 is a detail view of the dynamometer, hereinafterreferred to. Fig. 10 is a top view of the modified arrangement of thecircuits in connection with the magnets.

In the practical arrangement of my device I employ a practically-rigidtarget-frame, to the rear of which is hung a pivoted pendulum or contactmember, which is operated by the vibratory impulse of the target causedby the impact of the ball thrown against it, the force Serial No.4J2,668. (No model.)

of the throw serving to move the pendulum from the impact-point todifferent distances or arcs, which when so moved serves to make acontact with an opposite member, whereby to close the electricalcircuit, which in turn causes the indicator (which in this instancerepresents the batter in the game) to move a certain distance, suchdistance being governed by the force and the accuracy in which the ballstrikes the target and the movement of the swinging contact-maker orpendulum.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the target, which may be of anyornamental shape and upon the striking-board of which may be delineateda center or bulls-eye or a figure of a batter, as shown. Projectedrearward at a point to the rear of the bullseye is an impact pin B,which bears against the contact or swinging pendulum C, which is pivotedat c in a metal bracket D on the back of the target-board, which isconnected with one of the terminals of the electrical circuit, as shown,the upper end of such pendulum or contact being extended and formed witha transverse member 0, which is arranged to normally rest over and outof contact with a yielding member E, which connects with the otherterminal of the circuit. It will be noticed that the member E and thependulum are connected with opposite poles of the battery and which whenbrought in contact serve to close the circuit.

The annunciator, which is most clearly illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8,consists of a box on the upper face of which is represented a base-ballfield, with players and a batter F in their proper positions. Thebatter, as before stated, serves as an indicator and operates in a slotor way G, formed in the top plate H,

being held upon a vertical member g, which passes up through such slot,which member is formed on a radial arm g, projected from a centralrotatable shaft I, which is also provided with other radial arms g g gof different lengths, which arms, in connection with arm g, are arrangedto engage suitablyarranged weighted stops it h h h", which are normallyheld in their locked positions by the armatures J J J 2 J It will benoticed by referring to Fig. 8 that the weighted stops are pivoted attheir lower ends to the base-plates j of the armatures in such a mannerthat when the contact is closed and the magnet draws the armature downthe stop will fall onto the said base-plate. It will be also noticedthat by arrangingthe arms g, g g and g and the stops it, 71 71/3, and h,as shown, that the indicator is capable of four distinct movements, suchmovements representing what is known in base-ball parlance as asingle-base hit, a two-base [0 hit, three-base hit, and a four-base orhome-run. The several magnets are so arranged that they will besuccessively energized or connected with the main circuit-i. e., shouldthe main circuit be closed and remain closed after the first stop hasbeen dropped and made contact with the spring M. The main circuit wouldthen pass through the said stop into the base of the first magnet f andthrough the connecting-wire m to the next magnetj, and operate it todrop its 0 to a position shown in dotted lines in Fig. at,

which would make a momentary contact with the plate E, close the circuitand energize the first magnet j draw down the armature J, and therebyrelease the stop h, release arm g, and allow the shaft I to rotate untilthe arm g strikes the stop 72/ such shaft being normally rotated in thedirection indicated by the arrow 10 by means of a weight K orspringpower. After the first stop h has been released, its head portionh will rest upon a spring-contact M, connected with the main circuit,and upon the metal base of the magnet, which base, as also thebases ofthe other magnets, are electrically connected by the wires on m mcontact-sp rings on and m being arranged for the magnetsjj which in turnare electrically connected with each other by the wires 01 n, as shown.

As before stated, the several magnets are arranged to be successivelyenergized, such arrangement being provided for the following purpose.

In the use of this game it is customary to give a player three balls forfive cents, with an inducement ofa suitable reward should he make ascore. Now suppose he throws the first hall with but ordinary force andskill, he would would make but a single-base bit-that is to say, thependulum would stay in contact just long enough to close the circuitanddrop the first stop h, which stop and the plate M and the wire m wouldnow bring the second magnet in a direct connection with the maincircuit. Now if the next ball thrown is but of equal force as the firstball, it will vibrate the pendulum or coutactin the same degree asbefore, making, as it were, an instantaneous circuit, which in thisinstance would serve to energize the second magnet and drop the secondstop 7L2, and allow the shaft, with the indicator or batter, to advanceanother or single base, the operation being repeated by balls thrownwith equal force against the target until the batter reach the fourth orhome base.

The operation, so far as described, sets forth how the batter reacheshome by the success ive single-base hits. I will now describe how it ispossible for him to make a two-bagger or home-run.

Should a ball be thrown near the bulls-eye of the target and withconsiderable force, the vibratory impulse imparted to the pendulum wouldcause it to swing up to a position shown by dotted lines X, making acontact with the plate E, which is maintained in the rise and fall ofsuch pendulum. This movement of the pendulum causes not only the firstmagnet to become energized to drop the stop, but, owing to its continuedcontact, maintains the circuit, which is then transmitted to the secondmagnet in the manner before stated, permit ting the second stop 762 tofall; but before such stop 7L2 will seat itself to its correspondingcontact-spring h the pendulum will have resumed its normal position andthe circuit broken. This double operation of the stops admits of thebatter or indicator making a double or two-base hit movement on theannunciator plate or frame. Throwing the ball at the target with a verygreat force and striking the bulls-eye will cause the pendulum orcontact to swing up to such an extent as to maintain a circuit longenough to cause all the stops to fall and to allow of a complete circuitof the batter making, as it were, a home run.

0 indicates an electric alarm-bell connected with the main circuit,which is arranged to be-rung when the batter or indicator makes acomplete circuit. 7 As an additional novelty and means for indicatingthe force with which the ball is thrown against the target, I arrange inthe main circuit a dynamometer P, of any wellknown construction, thedetent or restraining pawl of which is automatically held out ofconnection with the indicator-spindle gearing so long as the circuit isclosed. Shoulda ball be thrown against the target with a weak force, thecircuit would be but momentary, thus allowing for but a slight rotationof the indicator-arm, say, to represent 5 pounds; but should the ball bethrown with a sufficient force to make a home-run, the circuit remainingclosed for some time would hold the pawl out of engagement and allow theincator-arm on the dynamometer to pass around, say, to twenty or thirtypounds on the scale, and so on.

While I prefer to use but a single maincireuit wire and one springcontact-plate E. I may, if desired, use four contact-pieces, as clearlyshown in Figs. 5 and 6, by reference to which it will be seen the fourcontacts 6 e IIO e e are arranged at different distances from thetransverse member 0 of the pendulum contact O, which member in thisinstance is extended laterallyover the said pieces e c e c in the mannermost clearly shown in Fig. 5. Then the contacts 6, e c and c areemployed, a separate circuit-wire is used foreach magnet, the contact cbeing electrically connected by a wire 10 with the first magnetj thecontacts 6 e by wires 20 and 30 with the magnets y" j and the contact c"with the last magnet by the wire 40. The spring-plates M, M, M, and M inthis arrangement serve as rests for the stops it when dropped.

To regulate the force required to swing the pendulum contact, I provideit with an extension c on which is held to slide a weight 0, which whenadjusted outwardwill increase the weight of such pendulum and therebynecessitate an increased vibration of the target to raise it to theheight necessary to maintain a continued electric circuit.

R indicates a pivoted bail,with which connects a pull rod or cord 7',which extends to the outside of the annunciator-casing, such bail beingarranged to throw one or all of the stops up into locked position withthe armaturcs. A similar operating-cord S, which connects with the drumT on the shaft I, when pulled outward will bring the indicator or batterback to its normal position.

I desire it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact detailsof mechanism shown, as these may be varied without departing from myinvention. I also wish it understood that while I have not so shownthem, the several figures which represent the different ball-players inthe field may be electrically connected with the main electrical circuitand arranged to be moved about by the closing of the circuit.

While I prefer to operate the annunciator by a closed circuit, it ismanifest that it may be operated by an open circuit, and instead ofemploying a pendulum-contact, as stated, a circuit-breaking device maybe employed, which is arranged to be operated to hold the circuit brokendifferent durations of time, according to the power of force applied.Such device might be in the nature of a push-button spring-actuated,which is normally held closed, but arranged to fly back by the impact ofthe ball or other power.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is

1. An electrically-operated game comprising an annunciator having anindicator arranged for variable degrees of movement, an electro-magneticdevice arranged when operated to govern the variable movement of theindicator, a target having a contact-maker moved by the vibratoryimpulse of the target to an extent proportionate to the force of impact,and an electrical circuit connecting the target and the electro-magneticdevice, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. An electrically-operated game comprisin g an indicator arranged forvariable degrees of movement, an electromagnetic device arranged whenoperated to govern the variable movements of the indicator, a targethaving a contact-maker moved to an extent proportionate to the force ofimpact, said contactmaker being adjustable, whereby to require a greateror less impulse from the target to operate it, and an electric circuitconnecting the electro-magnetic device and the target, all arranged asand for the purposes described.

3. An electrical game comprising an annunciator having an indicatorarranged for varied movements, electro-magnetic devices for operatingsaid indicator, as stated, a target or strike portion having asubstantially rigid face, a pendulum contact-maker supported thereon,adapted to be swung to an extent proportionate to the force of impactagainstthe tar et, and an electric circuit connecting the target and theelectro-magnetic devices, said circuit adapted to be held closeddifferent durations of time by the varied movements of thecontact-maker, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination, with a target or strike portion and a contact-makeroperated to close a circuit by the vibratory impulse of the target, ofan annunciator having a top plate formed with an open way, a rotatableshaft carrying an indicator held to travel in such way, means forrotating such shaft, substantially as shown, a series of stops forlimiting the indicator, a series of armatures and magnets for lockingthe stops, and an electrical circuit connecting the first magnet and thetarget, said magnets arranged to be successively brought into thecircuit after the preceding magnet has been energized and its respectivestop released, as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination, with the target or strike portion and the pendulumcontact, of a rotatable shaft, the movable indicator held thereon, aseries of weighted stops for limiting the movement of the indicator, aseries of magnets and armatures, the armatures normally locking suchstops, an electric circuit connecting the magnets and the target, thewires mm m and a series of spring switch-plates M M M said magnets.stop-plates M M M and wires m m m arranged as shown, whereby the magnetswill be successively connected with the main circuit by the releasedstop of the preceding magnet, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

6. The combination of the annunciator, the movable indicator, means formoving it in one direction, a series of magnets and arma tures, a seriesof stops for limiting the movement of the indicator, such stops heldlocked by the armatures, a series of electric circuits connected withthe magnets, a strike portion r target having a substantially-rigidface, a swinging contact-maker having a bearing portion, and a series ofyielding contacts arranged of the target, an electric circuit connectingthe target and magnets in the annunciator, i and a dynamometer in suchcircuit arranged to be operated by the closing of the circuit by thecontact-maker and to register the force or continuance of the closedcircuit, substanstantiall y as and for the purpose described.

MORRIS ULLMAN. Vitnesses:

FRED G. DIETERICH, SOLON O. KEMON.

